TO MY MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: ______________________________
This survey was faxed to all MPs in March 1998. Have you responded? Did your copy go astray? Until it's proved otherwise, I have to assume that the federal cabinet ministers still intend to sign the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), despite possible delays. News reports in Canada that "the MAI is dead" may just be camouflage. Also, Members of Parliament will vote on implementing legislation (now postponed until fall) related to the Financial Services Agreement (FSA), for which an Agreement in Principle was signed on December 12th, 1997 at the World Trade Organization. I expect you will be debating their very significant implications. Thus I wish to determine your awareness of these important proposals and the reasons for your own position on them. Thank you in advance for replying to me.
MY NAME: _________________________________
Please reply to my fax, email or address: _____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Please send a copy to OPIRG-Carleton, fax 520-3989, or e-mail
opirg@carleton.ca. Or mail to:
Ontario Public Interest Research Group at Carleton University, Room 326
Unicentre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa ON K1S 5B6
QUESTIONS (please circle one or more as appropriate)
1. Have you:
...read the OECD draft of the proposed MAI?
a) cover to cover?
b) skimmed?
c) certain sections only?
d) not yet
...read a copy of "Canada's final offer" to the WTO on
the proposed FSA?
a) cover to cover?
b) skimmed?
c) certain sections only?
d) not yet
2. What information resource are you using to inform yourself on the implications of the MAI and FSA, with regard to Canada's parliamentary and econ-omic sovereignty, and with respect to Canadian health, education, employment, economic, cultural and social core policies?
MAI
a) party caucus resource people?
b) Minister's office?
c) own inquiry?
d) other (what?) __________________________________________
FSA
a) party caucus resource people?
b) Minister's office?
c) own inquiry?
d) other (what?) __________________________________________
3. What is your own position on the proposed MAI and FSA?
MAI
a) haven't formed a position
b) fully supportive
c) have reservations but will accept the party position
d) have the following objections that must be satisfied before I will lend
my name in support
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
e) will oppose the proposed MAI in total
FSA
a) haven't formed a position
b) fully supportive
c) have reservations but will accept the party position
d) have the following objections that must be satisfied before I will lend
my name in support
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
e) will oppose the proposed FSA in total
4. Are you making constituents aware of the MAI and FSA implications?
MAI
a) Have used my Member's householder to explain to all my constituents
b) Will use the householder to explain own and Party's position
c) Have organized or attended public meetings to explain own and Party's
position
d) Have used local media releases for this purpose
e) Have done so by other means (how?) ________________________________________
f) Responding only to questions by constituents
FSA
a) Have used my Member's householder to explain to all my constituents
b) Will use the householder to explain own and Party's position
c) Have organized or attended public meetings to explain own and Party's
position
d) Have used local media releases for this purpose
e) Have done so by other means (how?) ________________________________________
f) Responding only to questions by constituents
This survey is organized by the Ontario Public Interest Research Groups at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa (OPIRG-Carleton, OPIRG-Ottawa), Ottawa Chapter of the Council of Canadians, and Flora Community Web, with support from the Alliance for Public Accountability (Revised 16 June 1998)